Public Sector Clients

Gristwood and Toms provides a distinctive range of tree services to all types of local authority, central government departments, social housing providers, NHS organisations, universities, colleges and schools.

Commercial Sector Clients

Our unrivalled knowledge and expertise combined with our broad range of capabilities has made us the ideal partner for many commercial sector organisations. From facility management providers and multi-national organisations to landowners and SME’s, we can make managing your trees easier and your budget go further.

Education Sector Clients

Gristwood and Toms is approved by local authorities across the UK and is an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor. In fact, we are the largest and most experienced arboricultural contractor in the UK.

You can rest assured that you (and your trees) will receive a first class service.

Our People

We wouldn’t have grown into the UK’s largest specialist arboricultural company without some great people on board, from our arborists and consultants on the ground (and up the trees) to the support staff in the offices.

Our Environment

As the UK’s largest specialist arboricultural company we have a particular duty to ensure that the work we carry out on trees, is performed in a sustainable manner. Read about some of the environmental initiatives we have implemented here.

Accreditations

We recognise that quality and specialist knowledge are the key factors to giving our customers confidence in the services we provide. While we comply with the essential safety legislation and regulations that the arboricultural industry requires we also have achieved other independent awards in the areas of safety, environment, training and quality.

Client Function

Gristwood and Toms is a trusted partner to numerous local authorities. We provide complete management of urban tree populations, seamlessly combining the traditional client and contractor function into one to deliver maximum benefit.

Our Consultants

Our directly employed team of expert consultants and surveyors are educated to the highest standards and will provide you with fast, reliable and professional tree advice to suit all situations, wherever you are in the country.

Stump Grinding

Emergency Call Out Service

Gristwood and Toms responds to thousands of local incidents and call-outs for dangerous trees each year. We provide our customers with a fully insured and professional emergency response service that they can completely rely upon.

DEREK McFARLAND

Position:

Surveyor/Inspector

Derek is fast approaching his 30th year in Arboriculture. He began when he saw a tree gang working on some large London planes in 1988 and after a trial period of one week knew this is what he wanted to do. Thankfully for us, he got offered a job on the last day of his trial period!! Since then, Derek has done many qualifications in various aspects of the industry.

Derek has a passion for preserving our country’s existing trees and natural environment as well as promoting industry best practice for the management of trees. He has recently moved from training and assessing young arborists and firmly believes in the Gristwood and Toms ethos of actively promoting safe practices.

Derek likes motorcycling, paragliding and painting. His dream is to either fly a lap of Laguna Seca or to climb a giant Sequoia in Oregon.

Hobbies:

Cycling, kayaking and watching football

Name:

GARY SCAMMELL

Position:

Aboricultural Consultant

Gary has over 30 years industry experience after starting as a trainee Arborist. He has worked specifically in the Arboricultural industry for over 25 years including 10 years carrying out practical tree surgery operations. He was the Principal Arboricultural Officer for Portsmouth City Council for 10 years responsible for managing the City’s tree stock.

During this period Gary was required to act as an expert witness for the Planning Department where breaches of tree and planning legislation occurred.

In 2005, Gristwood and Toms enticed him to take up a role as Consultant. This involves advising clients, both private and commercial and managing the highways trees for Colas Ltd on the country’s first Highways PFI contract.

He also investigates industry specific accidents and insurance claims and deals with any planning issues relating to trees.

Gary is a past member of the Aboricultural Association Professional Committee and was a member of the inaugural Utility Aboricultural Group.

When asked why he does what he does, his response was ‘I enjoy being able to provide a professional service to our customers and like the challenge each project brings’.

In his spare time Gary particularly enjoys cycling, kayaking and watching football. The top thing on his bucket list is to kayak around the Isle of Wight.

Qualification:

Lantra PTI certificate

Specialist area:

Local planning authority

BS5837 development surveys and arboricultural reports

Tree risk inspections and reports

Tree inventory survey and works programmes

Tree management policies

Hobbies:

Sports (especially snooker and football), technology, travelling and current affairs

Name:

SIMON ROGERS

Position:

Senior Surveyor

Simon has been in Arboriculture for 24 years. He was introduced into Arb by a friend & started at the bottom as a Groundsman. He progressed to a 2nd climber then Foreman to Lead Climber and thereafter, estimator then Contract Manager. In 2005 he joined G&T as a surveyor. In November 2016 he was promoted by Gristwood and Toms to the position of Senior Surveyor.

Simon has vast experience in surveying with a wide range of software systems & hardware for local authorities & private clients throughout the UK. He has a passion for working in an outdoor environment – a new office every day. As a young child he was always amazed by the overall size of trees & that began his love for trees. Now in his working life he is lucky to be working in the industry & helping to preserve them for everyone else to enjoy.

Qualification:

National Certificate in Arboriculture, National Diploma in Arboriculture, Completed Foundation Degree in Arboriculture

Specialist areas:

Tree risk inspections and reports

Local Authority knowledge and local planning issues

BS5837 development surveys and arboricultural reports

Tree inventory survey and works programmes

Tree management policies

Hobbies:

Walking, cycling, kayaking and supporting Portsmouth FC

Name:

STUART CAMPBELL

Position:

Consultant/Surveyor/Contracts manager

Stuart has been involved in the Arboricultural Industry since 1986 where he was employed by Portsmouth City Council, on a temporary summer contract watering newly planted trees. His interest in Arboriculture and working with trees resulted with him being offered a full-time post in one of their tree gangs and subsequently taking on the responsibility of team leader.

In 1991, Stuart went back to College to study his National Certificate Arboriculture and National Diploma Arboriculture.

Following his stint at university, he became a student arborist at Rutishauser und Partner in Switzerland. Working here, he developed new skills and climbing practices in high quality tree care and workmanship. For the next 18 years, Stuart honed his skills, as a local authority Arboricultural Officer. His duties included overseeing and organising work, dealing and advising the public on all tree related issues and advising on planning matters. In 2014, Stuart moved to Gristwood & Toms bringing all his expertise.

Stuart says that the reason he does what he does is ‘a love of the outdoors and feeling a sense of achievement in the greening of the streets of our country for future generations to enjoy’.

In his spare time he likes to walk in the countryside, cycling, kayaking and supporting Portsmouth FC. When asked what the top thing on his bucket list, he replied that it would be watching

Qualification:

Level 4 diploma in arboriculture and Professional Tree Inspection.

Specialist area:

Theory of aboriculture and tree biology

BS5837 development surveys and arboricultural reports

Tree risk inspections and reports

Tree inventory survey and works programmes

Tree management policies

Hobbies:

Rugby, football and Formula 1

Name:

TREVOR GARVEY

Position:

Aboricultural surveyor

Trevor started his career in the industry in 2009 after a friend recommended taking his cs38 aerial rescue ticket. After sending out his CV, he began as a groundsman and over the first few years gained more experience and qualifications and started climbing and subsequently became a crew leader.

When he was a groundsman he took and passed 2 RFS level 2 exams. It was then that Trevor realised how much there was to learn about trees and that it was a subject he really enjoyed. He decided to take the opportunity to take the level 4 diploma in order to continue his career as a surveyor.

In 2016 Trevor joined Gristwood and Toms on the technical side as a surveyor.

Trevor loves rugby which takes up most of his spare time. He also goes to watch West Ham with his dad and loves Formula 1. He would love to visit New York!

Public Sector

Gristwood and Toms provides a distinctive range of tree services to all types of local authority.Read More

Commercial Sector

Our unrivalled knowledge and expertise has made us the ideal partner for many private sector organisations.Read More

Education Sector

Gristwood and Toms is approved by local authorities across the UK and is an Arboricultural Association Approved Contractor.Read More

About Gristwood & Toms

Gristwood and Toms is a privately owned, full service arboricultural company. Quite simply, if it’s anything to do with trees from pruning & felling to planning applications & tree safety reports – we can handle it.

With a proud 40 years heritage (and because people really like working with us) we have grown into the largest tree contractor in the UK, and probably Europe. We cover most of England from 8 regional depots dotted across the country and directly employ over 200 staff, from Apprentices to Registered Consultants.

They trust us (we’re straight talking and we ‘do the right thing’), and they value the financial savings and long-term value we help generate.

As a valued customer, you too could benefit from a comprehensive suite of arboricultural services including consultancy, subsidence reports, tree officer functions as well the more traditional contracting service. And probably save yourself some money and effort too!